Modular backsplash device and kit

ABSTRACT

A modular backsplash device includes a plurality of tiles that are permanently affixed onto a durable waterproof substrate having a layer of grout and a plurality of spaced openings extending from the front of the substrate to the back of the substrate. 
     A modular backsplash kit includes a plurality of modular devices, mounting hardware, an installation bracket, a plurality of trim tiles, mounting hardware and user instructions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No.61/611,783 filed on 16 Mar., 2012, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to construction materials, andmore particularly to a modular tile backsplash device and installationkit.

2. Description of the current art

In the competitive world of real estate, custom features make a bigdifference between a home selling quickly, and a home sitting on themarket. One of the most important features to any home is the kitchen.To this end, it is well known that custom kitchens are huge sellingpoints, and greatly contribute to the pride of home ownership.Conversely, kitchens which appear to be outdated can have an equallynegative impact on a home.

One of the most noticeable features of any kitchen is the backsplasharea, which ties the countertops and the cabinets together to form avisually appealing look. Although backsplashes can be constructed from awide array of different materials, many modern homes and custom homesutilize some form of tile.

Although some attempts at streamlining the labor involved in preparingand adhering tile to a vertical backboard have been proposed, theprocess of constructing a tile backsplash has not changed in recentyears. To this end, it is typical for a skilled worker to sand andprepare the drywall of the area onto which the individual tiles will beplaced. Once the site has been prepared, the worker will go through amyriad of steps including the application of a bonding agent such asMastec® to the wall, cutting individual tiles utilizing specialequipment such as a wet saw, precisely spacing and installing the cuttiles onto the wall, and finally applying grout and caulk once the tilesand bonding agent have rested overnight.

As described above, this process requires specialized tools andknowledge that id not possessed by the average homeowner. Moreover, theabove process takes at least two days of construction time, which raisesthe price that the experienced craftsman must charge.

Although extremely attractive when installed correctly, over time, thesetile backsplashes can become dated. When this happens, the homeowner isleft with no choice but to again employ a skilled craftsman tophysically strip, scrape and pull each of the individual tiles of theexisting backsplash from the kitchen drywall, and then repair any damagecaused by the removal procedure, before starting all over again with theinstallation of a new backsplash.

In this regard, the current state of the art does not provide an easymeans for allowing non skilled craftsman install and/or renovate kitchenbacksplashes without the special equipment and labor intensivemethodologies described above.

Although there are known wall covering devices such as laminate, wallpaper and the like, which can include imprinted designs and fauxmaterials, there is nothing currently available which functions toprovide real tiles that can be custom arranged and installed by an enduser to form a custom backsplash.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a modular device and kitcapable of allowing a user to quickly and easily install a custombacksplash that does not suffer from the problems described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a modular backsplash device andkit. One embodiment of the invention can include a plurality of tilesthat are permanently affixed onto a durable waterproof substrate. Alayer of grout is provided, and a plurality of spaced openings functionto secure the device to a building wall.

Another embodiment can further include a plurality of caps fordisguising the existence of the openings, and a plurality of removabletrim tiles which can be secured along the outer periphery of the device.

In yet another embodiment, a modular backsplash kit can include aplurality of modular devices in addition to mounting hardware, aninstallation bracket, trim tiles, mounting hardware and userinstructions.

This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not toidentify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should beappreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a modular tile backsplash that is useful forunderstanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a modular tile backsplash in accordance withanother embodiment.

FIG. 2 a is a cutout view of a back side of a clip-on trim tile inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a modular tile backsplash installation bracketin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a modular tile backsplash kit in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an installed modular tile backsplashkit, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features ofthe invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that theinvention will be better understood from a consideration of thedescription in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailedembodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, itis to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplaryof the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and asa representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriatelydetailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are notintended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandabledescription of the invention.

Identical reference numerals are used for like elements of the inventionor elements of like function. For the sake of clarity, only thosereference numerals are shown in the individual figures which arenecessary for the description of the respective figure. For purposes ofthis description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,”“vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to theinvention as oriented in FIG. 1. Although described throughout thisdocument as a backsplash, this is for illustrative purposes only, as thepresently claimed invention can be utilized in any capacity wherein itis desirable to provide wall tiles. Accordingly, the embodimentsdescribed herein are not to be limited to kitchen use.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a modular backsplash device that isuseful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Asshown, the modular device 10 can include a substrate backboard 11 ontowhich a plurality of pre-installed tiles 12 are permanently affixed.

The substrate 11 can act as a backboard for securely positioning thetiles onto the studs/drywall of a kitchen, bath or other such structure.To this end, the substrate 11 can include virtually any durablewaterproof material which can withstand the weight of the installedtiles, grout and bonding agents, while remaining resilient enough to beshipped and installed as a complete, pre-fabricated unit. To this end,several non-limiting examples include durable cement board, hard wood,rigid plastic and/or a combination of cement board with reinforcementmaterials blended therein. Several non-limiting examples of suitablereinforcement materials which can be mixed with cement board to provideincreased durability and tensile strength include strands of fiberglass,strands of metallic wire, and/or composite materials.

Although the substrate 11 can include any number of different shapes,sizes and dimensions, one preferred embodiment will include a squareshape having a height and length of approximately 18 inches, and athickness of between 0.3 inches and 0.6 inches.

Each tile 12 can be constructed from any size, shape and type ofmaterial suitable for use in a kitchen and/or bathroom environment.Several non-limiting examples include ceramic, travertine, glass,plastic, onyx, marble, and graphite rocks, among many others. In onepreferred embodiment, each tile 12 can be permanently affixed onto thesubstrate 11 via conventional bonding agents, and shall be pre-grouted13 at the time of manufacture, in order to allow installation withoutthe need for custom tools, skills and materials.

As the inventive concepts described herein aim to provide a simple do ityourself approach to creating and installing a custom backsplash, thoseof skill in the art will recognize that any number of different size,shape and types of tiles can be secured to their respective substratebackboards in any manner. For example, one device 10 can include aplurality of identical sized and/or type of tiles 12 that are positionedin a uniform manner (i.e., in a vertical and horizontal grid) across theentirety of the substrate 11 (FIG. 1). Such a feature can provide theend user with the ability to create a uniform looking backsplash.Additionally, another device 10 can include a plurality of differentsized and/or type of tiles 12 that are positioned along the substrate 11in a non-uniform manner (i.e., without regard to a vertical and/orhorizontal grid and at uneven spacing) across the entirety or a portionof the substrate (FIG. 2). Such a feature can provide the end user withthe ability to create a random looking backsplash. Finally, as will bedescribed below, any number of the devices 10 can be installed togetherto create a truly one of a kind custom backsplash.

Although described above with respect to particular constructionmethodologies, alternate embodiments of the invention wherein the tilesare not grouted at a factory setting are also contemplated, and othermeans of securing the tiles to the backboard (i.e., glue, for example)are also contemplated. In addition to the above, any number ofcommercially available antimicrobial additives can be mixed with thegrout 13 and/or tiles 12, in accordance with known constructionmethodologies. Such a feature can provide end users with protectionagainst airborne bacteria and/or mold, for example which can be found inkitchen and bath areas.

In one preferred embodiment, the modular device 10 comprising thesubstrate 11, tiles 12 and grout 13 shall be pre-fabricated and shippedas a complete unit from a manufacturer. To this end, in one embodiment,the back side of the substrate 11 of each device 10 can further includea soft lining, such as felt, for example. Such a feature can allow aplurality of the devices to be arranged into a vertical stack and thensecured onto a pallet for shipping, without causing damage to the tileof the adjacent unit.

A series of openings 14 can be pre-drilled into the substrate in orderto allow a user to easily secure the device 10 to a wall. In onepreferred embodiment, each of the openings can be separated by a uniformdistance, such as 16 inches, for example, so as to allow a user toeasily line the openings with their homes existing wall studs. Ofcourse, the openings can also be positioned at virtually any locationalong the substrate. To this end, each device 10 can be installed onto awall utilizing conventional and easily recognizable hardware 5 such asnails, screws and/or fasteners, for example.

In one optional embodiment, a plurality of grout colored caps 15 can beprovided in order to hide the existence of the openings and/or thehardware positioned within the openings.

As described herein, each of these caps can be constructed from a widerange of materials such as plastic, for example, and can include a shapeand size suitable for its intended use. Alternatively, each device cancome with a small amount of grout, which the user can place directlyinto the opening/hardware in order to serve the same purpose.

Although illustrated above as utilizing a plurality of openings forreceiving mounting hardware to secure the device to a wall, otherembodiments are also contemplated. For example, each device 10 can alsobe secured to a wall utilizing glue, strips of hook and loop material(i.e., Velcro®) and other such fasteners.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the device 10 that furtherincludes a plurality of clip-on trim tiles 20. Each of the tiles 20 canbe constructed from the same materials as the tiles 12 described above,and can be pre-fabricated into any number of desirable trim shapes suchas bullnose, or round edge, for example.

As shown in FIG. 2 a, the back portion of each trim tile 20 can includeone or more clips 21 a, for example, that are capable of securelyaffixing each trim tile 20 along the outer edges of the substrate 11(see arrow a in FIG. 2) and/or along the lip of the bracket as describedbelow. Although described as including a clip, any number of othersuitable connectors can also be utilized. For example, the trim tilescan also be secured to the substrate 11 and/or bracket lip 32 viaopposing strips of hook and loop material 21 b (i.e., Velcro®), glueand/or other known adhesive materials. As will be described below, theinclusion of clip-on trim tiles can allow a user to easily installcustom border trim to their backsplash without requiring special toolsor skills.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of an optional attachment bracket 30which can act to secure one or more modular devices 10 to a wall in anovel fashion. As shown, the bracket 30 can include an elongated mainbody 31 having a curved bottom section 32 forming a lip into which oneside edge of the substrate 11 can be secured. In one preferredembodiment, the attachment bracket 30 can be constructed from anelongated sheet of metallic material such as aluminum or steel, forexample, having a plurality of pre-drilled openings 33 through whichconventional mounting hardware 5 (e.g., nails, screws, etc.,) can act tosecure the bracket to a wall. It is also preferred that the bracket body31 be extremely thin so as to prevent the installed device from anglingaway from the wall along any edge. Although dimensions are not critical,in one preferred embodiment, the bracket can include a length of betweenabout 10 and 18 inches, and a thickness of between 0.05 and 0.1 inchesand a lip thickness of between 0.25 and 0.75, suitable to fully engagethe substrate 11. Of course, any number of other sizes and dimensionsare also contemplated.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a modular backsplash kit 40 whichcan include a plurality of the modular devices 10 described above, aplurality of trim tiles 20 a mounting bracket 30, user instructions 45and mounting hardware 5.

As described herein, the user instructions can include a pamphlet,video, dvd or other such medium for advising a user on proper measuringtechniques to ensure the kit will fit the desired space, and can alsofunction to provide step by step installation instructions.

As shown, the bracket 30 can be secured to a wall 1 or other structurein a location where a backsplash is desired to be placed. Onceinstalled, one or more tile backsplash modules 10 can be lowered (seearrow B) until their bottom portion is resting within the lip 32 of thebracket. Once positioned onto the bracket 30, the top portion of eachmodule 10 can be secured directly to the wall utilizing the openings 14and conventional mounting hardware. Alternately, it is noted that sincethe weight of each panel 10 will be supported by the bracket 30, it isalso possible to utilize an adhesive material such as glue, for examplein order to secure the back portion of the substrate 11 directly to thewall 1, if so desired. Finally, any number of trim tiles 20 can beclipped onto the periphery of each of the devices 10 and/or the lip ofthe bracket 30 so as to create a finished custom backsplash.

Although described above as utilizing the mounting bracket 30, it shouldbe apparent from the discussion provided herein that one or more of thedevices 10 can be secured directly to the wall via the conventionalhardware 5 and openings 14 without the aid of the mounting bracket.Moreover, other embodiments can utilize a second bracket (notillustrated) which can be positioned in an inverted relationship to thelower bracket in order to secure the upper portion of the devices to thewall in an identical manner as described above. In this regard, eachbracket can first be placed onto the wall, and the modular tiles 10 canbe slid into place along the lipped portions of the brackets.

While the above descriptions have focused on the installation of a newbacksplash onto a wall, it should be apparent that an already installedmodular backsplash can be easily uninstalled by reversing the abovesteps. Such a feature can allow a user easily and quickly remove andreinstall a different backsplash without damaging the wall and/orperforming the extreme manual labor of stripping and cutting, asdescribed above.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of an installed custom backsplashutilizing a plurality of pre-fabricated modular devices 10. As shown,the installed backsplash provides the same high quality tile materialsand gives the same visual appearance as a traditional custom craftedbacksplash, but can be arranged, installed and replaced in asignificantly shorter period of time utilizing commonly availablehardware thereby negating the need for specialized tools, knowledge andcraftsman.

As to a further description of the manner and use of the presentinvention, the same should be apparent from the above description.Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage andoperation will be provided.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular backsplash device, comprising: adurable waterproof substrate; a plurality of tiles that are permanentlyaffixed to the substrate; a layer of grout that is interposed betweenthe plurality of tiles along the substrate; and a plurality of spacedopenings extending from a front side of the substrate to a back side ofthe substrate, said openings being configured to receive a mountinghardware for vertically securing the device to a wall of a building. 2.The device of claim 1, further comprising: an antimicrobial coating thatis mixed with one of the grout and the tiles.
 3. The device of claim 1,wherein the plurality of tiles are constructed from at least one ofceramic, travertine, glass, onyx, marble, and graphite rocks.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of tiles areconstructed from a material that is different than a material of theremainder of the tiles.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein each of theplurality of tiles are constructed from ceramic.
 6. The device of claim1, wherein the plurality of tiles include a uniform shape, a uniformsize, and are secured onto the substrate in a uniform manner.
 7. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tiles include differentshapes and are secured onto the substrate in a non-uniform manner. 8.The device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of trim tiles forengaging the substrate along an outer periphery.
 9. The device of claim8, wherein at least one of the trim tiles further includes at least oneclip disposed along a back side thereof, said clip functioning to securethe at least one trim tile to the substrate.
 10. The device of claim 8,wherein at least one of the trim tiles further includes opposing stripsof hook and loop material, said material functioning to secure the atleast one trim tile to the substrate.
 11. The device of claim 8, whereineach of the trim tiles are constructed from at least one of ceramic,travertine, glass, onyx, marble, and graphite rocks, and includes ashape of at least one of bullnose and round edge.
 12. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the substrate is constructed from reinforced cementboard.
 13. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality ofcaps having a shape and color that is complementary to the openings andgrout, respectively.
 14. The device of claim 1, further comprising anelongated attachment bracket, said bracket including a lip for engaginga periphery of the substrate and for securing the same onto the wall ofthe building.
 15. The device of claim 14, further comprising: at leastone trim tile having a clip disposed along a back side thereof, saidclip functioning to secure the at least one trim tile to the lip of thebracket.
 16. A modular backsplash kit, comprising: a plurality ofmodular backsplash devices, each of said devices including a durablewaterproof substrate, a plurality of tiles that are permanently affixedto the substrate, a layer of grout that is interposed between theplurality of tiles along the substrate, and a plurality of spacedopenings extending from a front side of the substrate to a back side ofthe substrate; a plurality of caps having a shape and color that iscomplementary to the openings and grout, respectively; mounting hardwarefor engaging the plurality of openings, and for securing each of thedevices to a wall of a building; a plurality of trim tiles each having aclip disposed along a back side thereof, said clip functioning to securethe trim tile to the substrate along an outer periphery thereof; anduser instructions.
 17. A modular backsplash kit, comprising: a pluralityof modular backsplash devices, each of said devices including a durablewaterproof substrate, a plurality of tiles that are permanently affixedto the substrate, a layer of grout that is interposed between theplurality of tiles along the substrate, and a plurality of spacedopenings extending from a front side of the substrate to a back side ofthe substrate; a plurality of caps having a shape and color that iscomplementary to the openings and grout, respectively; mounting hardwarefor engaging the plurality of openings, and for securing each of thedevices to a wall of a building; at least one elongated attachmentbracket, said bracket including a lip for engaging a periphery of thesubstrate and for securing the same onto the wall of the building viathe mounting hardware; a plurality of trim tiles each having a clipdisposed along a back side thereof, said clip functioning to secure thetrim tile to at least one of the substrate and the lip of the bracket;and user instructions.